"Desire" list. A Van Sant less remembered than some other far less interesting and that constitutes a kind of novelistic clearance of his defects and drifts. Burroughs is the philosophical expression of the "pathos" of the film, its critical awareness, and Matt Dillon is its physical exponent, six years after the extraordinary "The Outsiders" with the aura already bruised by the life that intervened.

I saw this movie with no expectations whatsoever and got really surprised. What makes this film work is how realistic the characters are and how get involved with them emotionally. Even though there are no rough drug scenes like in "Trainspotting", since you're emotionally involved it's tougher. Gus Van Sant knows what he's doing giving us a little bit of David Lynch as he analyses the youth around the world nowaday

It's amazing how this mediocre film gets so much acclaim. Gus Van Sant's drug-addiction melodrama is bland and underwhelming on most every level. The cast is some of the least convincing drug addicts in the movies, with their movie star looks and lackluster performances. A lifeless, pretentious, overrated dud.

Unsentimental but sympathetic portrayal of a junkie family/gang that neither lauds nor condemns their lifestyle. The ruminations, myths, rules, and superstitions that tumble about sometimes offer insights into the reality of their lives and sometimes offer insights into how they deflect reality.
Most of the performances are quite good. William S. Burroughs is delightful as Tom, the ex(ish)-junkie priest.